Electric ute goes camping

Confirmed for an arrival in Australia in late 2021, the Rivian R1T pick-up is already in the final stages of development ahead of its US launch next year, but that hasn't stopped its designers spinning off a camping version based on the pure-electric ute.

Revealed at the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona, the specially adapted Rivian R1T was said to have been designed to be the perfect companion for camping adventures.

Making full use of the R1T's innovative storage tunnel that, until now, has been shown as the perfect place to stow away skis and snowboards, the camper version of the Rivian R1T has been fitted out with a small kitchen.

Containing drawers, a kettle, a worktop to prepare food and even an electric stovetop, the novel kitchen is powered by the same batteries that drive the pick-up.

Instead of sleeping on the floor, the R1T has been built with a sleeping platform above the rear tray that is accessible by a ladder.

Rivian says the raised bed and tent is just one of the ideas it is working on that will be available as an option once the R1T eventually goes on sale in 2020.

The fledgling Michigan-based firm, which will build the R1T and the closely-related R1S SUV at a former Mitsubishi factory, has already announced plans to manufacture "tens of thousands of vehicles for the first few years" and sell its battery-powered vehicles in markets around the globe, including Australia.

When it finally arrives, the initial plan is to sell the R1T with three battery options offering 105kW, 135kWh and 180kWh.

Despite measuring 5.5-metres long and weighing a hefty 2.6 tonnes, the dual-cab truck pick-up is said to be capable of hitting 100km/h in around three seconds while being able to deliver a range of between 370km and 650km.

Perhaps more incredibly, thanks to its four 147kW electric motors, the R1T will offer 14,000Nm of torque.

To charge it, Rivian says it is working on a new 160kW fast-charging station but each truck comes with a more modest 11kW on-board charger.

The R1T features adjustable air suspension that can rise as much as 360mm to help it wade up to a metre of water. The only fly in the ointment is the battery-powered ute's payload is limited to just 800kg.

Making up for that though is Rivian's claim the R1T will be capable of towing up to 5000kg.

As well as its off-roading prowess, back on road the US truck-maker claims that when it goes on sale the R1T will come with Level 3 autonomous driving aids (hands-off, eyes off-road) but has not confirmed whether it will be active from launch.

Pricing in the US is said to begin at around $US69,000 ($A100,000).